McConnell not measuring the drapes, but is ready to take control of the Senate

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R –KY) is not measuring the drapes in the Democrat-held majority leader’s office in anticipation of a power change, but tells HUMAN EVENTS he is confident Republicans can pick up enough seats in the November election to regain control.

“I assure you, we’re fixated on it,” McConnell said.

In a wide-ranging interview that will be featured in this paper’s print edition, McConnell discussed the upcoming election, tax increases, the fate of the Keystone pipeline and the House action last week to repeal a key component of ObamaCare.

Watch part three of our exclusive interview with Sen. Mitch McConnell:

The new entitlement program called the CLASS Act, a cornerstone of President Barack Obama’s plan to pay for long-term care, is also facing criticism from within his own party.

“The administration has even admitted that it cannot possibly work,” McConnell said. “We ought to have that vote in that Senate. I expect they won’t want to have it.”

Sen. Kent Conrad (D –ND), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, called that portion of Obama’s plan “a Ponzi scheme of the first order, the kind of thing Bernie Madoff would be proud of.”

McConnell also said Republicans have fought back on numerous attempts by Democrats to raise taxes in order to increase government spending.

“We don’t have the need for a tax increase,” McConnell said. “We have the need for spending reductions.”